Sutoro
Sutoro
Military unit
The Syriac Security Office (Syriac: ܡܟܬܒܐ ܕܣܘܬܪܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ, romanized: Mawtbo d'Sutoro Suryoyo, Arabic: سوتورو), commonly known as the Sutoro or the Sutoro Police, is a Christian Assyrian/Syriac police force in Jazira Region of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria in Syria, where it works in concert with the general Asayish police force of the canton with the mission to police ethnic Assyrian areas and neighbourhoods. Its establishment is associated with the Syriac Union Party (SUP).[3][4]
| Sutoro ܣܘܬܪܐ | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2012–present |
| Country | Syria |
| Allegiance | Syriac Union Party (Syria) Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria |
| Type | Police |
| Role | Security and policing |
| Size | 1,000+ (June 2013)[1] |
| Garrison/HQ | Al-Malikiyah, Hasakah Governorate, Syria |
| Nickname(s) | Sutoro |
| Website | https://www.facebook.com/Sutoro.S.S.F/ |
| Commanders | |
| General commander, 2015 | Ashur Abu Sarkun[2] |
| Spokesperson | Malki Rabo[2] |
Integration in the Rojava institutions
With the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War and the Rojava conflict, Sutoro units were first organized in town of al-Qahtaniyah (Qabre Hewore), and soon thereafter in al-Malikiyah (Dayrik).[5] The Syriac Union Party maintains warm and friendly relations with its Kurdish neighbours, and it was one of numerous organizations to join the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in establishing a formal administration for self-governance in northern Syria called Rojava. Following this policy, the Sutoro has sought to align itself with the Kurdish People's Defense Units (YPG) from an early juncture.[6] Although the Kurds were initially suspicious when it started organizing and wanted its members to either disarm or join Kurdish formations, the Sutoro was soon accepted and welcomed by Kurdish forces. It became fully integrated in the administration of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, operating alongside the general Rojavan Asayish police force, manning joint checkpoints and patrolling neighbourhoods together, while its paramilitary counterpart, the Syriac Military Council (MFS), joined an alliance with the YPG in January 2014.[7]
Breakaway of group "Sootoro"
The Sutoro Police should not be confused with the Sootoro, which has the same name in the Syriac language, but uses the English translation "Syriac Protection Office" and the transliteration "Sootoro". This police organization in the city of Qamishli was originally founded as the local branch of the Sutero but in late 2013 broke away, turning itself into a militia aligned with the Ba'athist government of Bashar Assad.[4][7][5] The Sutoro later founded a new branch in Qamishli.
- Ramezani, K. (12 July 2013). "20 Minuten - Schweizer Söldner im syrischen Bürgerkrieg - Hintergrund". 20min.ch. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
- "Christian militias loot Christian towns in northeastern Syria". Middle East Eye. 18 October 2015.
- "Bürgerkrieg : Die Christen in Syrien ziehen in die Schlacht - Nachrichten Politik - Ausland - DIE WELT". Welt.de. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
- Carl Drott (18 November 2013). "Qamishli's Cold War". Le Monde Diplomatique. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
- al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (23 February 2014). "Christian Militia and Political Dynamics in Syria". Syria Comment. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- Andrea Glioti (20 June 2013). "Syriac Christians, Kurds Boost Cooperation in Syria". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- Szlanko, Balint (20 February 2014). "Instead of fleeing, some of Syria's Christians will stand their ground". The National. Retrieved 25 February 2014.